Written Answers

Monday 25 June 2001

Scottish Executive

Education

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards finalising the proposed mergers of the Aberdeen and Dundee campuses of Northern College of Education with, respectively, the Universities of Aberdeen and Dundee.

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when a ministerial announcement will be made regarding the proposed mergers of the Aberdeen and Dundee campuses of Northern College of Education with, respectively, the Universities of Aberdeen and Dundee.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I wrote to the three institutions on 21 June, conveying my agreement to the merger, and a news release announcing my decision was issued on 22 June. The next step will be to put the necessary Scottish Statutory Instrument in place to implement the merger. I would not expect implementation to take place before October.

Oil and Gas Industry

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to encourage oil and gas companies to increase their expenditure on research and development in Scotland and particularly in the north east.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is a reserved matter and the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry. As Vice-Chair of the Pilot joint oil industry/Government working group, I take a close interest in ensuring that research and development is kept at the top of the industry’s agenda as research and development is essential if the Pilot objective of maintaining a strong and vibrant industry is to be achieved. Additionally, Scottish Enterprise is currently developing outline proposals to stimulate further oil and gas research and development activity.

Roads

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current trunk road maintenance contractors are responsible for maintaining the full area of any pieces of land adjacent to trunk roads and still owned by the Executive and, if not, who is responsible for maintaining such land.

Sarah Boyack: The trunk road maintenance contractors are not responsible for maintaining areas of land owned by the Scottish Executive which are outwith the trunk road boundary. These areas are the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.